3) Named team captain his senior season at UTEP, Robertson-Harris started all 12 games and led the team in quarterback hurries and finished his season ranked third on the team in tackles with 51 and had 2.5 sacks with 4 pass breakups.
D: What's your favorite fruit or vegetable?
RRH: I'm a big fan of mangoes. I don't know if you've ever had a mango? (Danny: I love mangoes!) What about pineapples? Do you like pineapples? (Danny: I used to.) What about coconuts? (Danny: No) Bananas? (Danny: Sort of) Bananas are good for you. Make sure you eat bananas every day! Make sure you eat strawberries. Make sure to eat your fruits and vegetables every day and you'll be big and strong like me. I'm not a big fan of green beans but I like broccoli. Broccoli is good with pasta and rice. You try that. Sound good?
D's Follow Up: I had some strawberries today. I also had cantaloupe, honeydew, apple, mandarin oranges and green beans. I want my muscles to be as big as Roy's someday.
J: How does it feel going from a small college (UTEP) to the NFL?
RRH: Oh! I didn't know I was doing interviews today. It feels good. The bigger schools have more opportunities to go to the NFL. I like to be a representation of guys who come from small schools. It gives them hope that they have a chance to make it to the NFL. You don't always have to go to schools like Ohio State or Wisconsin to go to the NFL. It's all about how hard you work. Listen to your parents. Stay in school. You are able to do whatever you want to do if you put your mind to it. Sound good?
J's Follow Up: That definitely makes him a role model for other athletes from small schools. My mom and dad's college was NIU and some of my favorite players from NIU are in the NFL like Tommy Lee Lewis (Saints), Kenny Golladay (Lions), Rashaan Melvin (Colts) and other guys like Michael Turner (Falcons, Chargers), Doug Free (Cowboys) and Larry English (Chargers) were some of the best players for their teams. I think it's cool he's from UTEP because he made it without being in the BIG 10 or the other big schools.
Last Monday, the boys and I took a short trip over to Northbrook to meet Roy Robertson-Harris for a signing at Goodwill. Roy was in the store early filming a segment for Inside the Bears and we walked in and watched some of the taping. Soon after, the boys and I had our opportunity to meet with Roy along with other fans. Robinson took more time interacting with Jordan and Danny than any player we've ever met.
Roy could not have been any nicer to J and D and more receptive to their questions. Jordan started first with his question about attending a small school like UTEP and trying to make it in the NFL. Roy gave Jordan a tremendous answer and said he was proud to represent athletes of smaller schools who have their own dreams of making it to the NFL. I'm sure that's the mindset Tarik Cohen (North Carolina A&T) and Adam Shaheen (Ashland University) also have after being drafted out of small schools in the 2017 NFL draft. I've always rooted for players from smaller schools too because Jen and I attended NIU (Northern Illinois University), who play in the Mid-American Conference. Our Huskies like to say they do things the hard way and they all have a chip on their shoulder because they believe they belong in the top conferences with the other athletes. NIU continues to persevere and cement themselves as one of the top mid-major programs in the country year after year. They added another boneyard victory (victory over a Power 5 conference) to their name this season as they went into Nebraska and walked out with a W.
Next up was Danny. Danny wanted to know Roy's favorite fruit or veggie and he was surprised to get such a variety of fruits. Roy loves mangoes like Danny but also listed off many more of his favorites like pineapple, strawberries and coconut. Robertson-Harris was curious to learn about Danny's favorites and was quick to remind him how important it is to eat healthy, especially eating fruits and veggies daily. I think Danny gets his 3-5 servings every day and really loves most fruits and vegetables. Thanks to Roy for encouraging healthy habits for Jordan and Danny. It has a big impact when they hear it from a pro athlete who is at the top of their game.
It was a great experience to interact with Roy Robertson-Harris last week and we look forward to seeing him on the field with the Chicago Bears. He has the size, potential and desire to make a big impact for the defense of the Chicago Bears for many years to come. He has three new fans who will be cheering him on here in the windy city!
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